Saratoga – A back-and-forth battle between the two best softball teams in the Central Coast section ended when Sydney Stewart hit a liner in left field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Mitty left fielder Mia Rodriguez on her and on her right towards the foul line.
Rodriguez dove for the ball, but it landed just out of reach as Carly Cummings raced home to second place with a win and St. Francis beat Mitty 6- for the CCS Open Division Championship on Saturday at West Valley College. beat by 5.
It was the third time St Francis (28-2) had beaten Mitty (26-4) this season, but it was a classic in its category.
“I don’t think I’ve ever coached a game of this magnitude that was so intense,” said St Francis coach Mike Oakland.
St. Francis celebrates his victory against Archbishop Mitty in the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game at West Valley College, Saratoga. California, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepe)
The Lancers took a 5–4 lead at the top of the seventh and were two outs from the win in regulation when Corey Hicks made a blast over the fence to the left (12th of his season) to tie it.
Archbishop Mitty’s Corey Hicks (18) scored at home after a home run against St. Francis in the seventh inning on Saturday. (Photo by Josie Lepe)
Neither team scored in the eighth and went down the match at the top of the ninth. In the bottom half, when Cummings singled out to the right, there were two outs, his third hit in five at-bats. Jessica Oakland hits a grounder in the hole between short and third. Mitty shortstop Taryn Kern fielded the ball with a diving backhand and made a brilliant first throw that Oakland hit hard.
He brought Stewart to the plate.
“I knew I needed to look for my pitch,” said Stewart of the University of Washington. “I looked inside one and knew I had to jump on it.”
He made the count to 3-1 before delivering a game-winner.
“I’m not a little surprised that Sid got that hit,” Coach Oakland said. “He just needed a pitch that he could handle. I have known that kid all his life and have seen him get many big hits.”
Mitty got three runs off the top of the first – Sara Pina on a base-loaded walk and a two-out, two-run single by Alyssa Onegawa – to put the Lancers in the unfamiliar position of playing catchup.
She scored one in the bottom of the first and took a three-run lead in the fourth when Chloe Cummings hit a base-loaded double.
The emperors responded immediately. Elon Butler led with a double to right-center, his third hit in his first three at-bats of the game. Pina propelled her into third and scored a goal from grounder to second base, hit by Hicks.
St Francis went back on top in the bottom of the fifth when Oakland scored from second on the ground out.
This remained until Hicks sent the game into extra innings with his homer.
Both teams advanced to the inaugural Northern California Regionals.
“I’m very proud of this team,” said Mitty’s coach Megan Yoke. “They never left. Hopefully they can take this speed to the knuckles.”
Archbishop Mitty Kelly Zybura (17) looks at St. Francis Brooke Deppis (4) (4) celebrates after scoring in the fourth inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game at West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif. Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepe) St. Francis head coach Mike Oakland is photographed in the fifth inning during the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game against Archbishop Mitty at West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif., Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepp) Archbishop Mitty Corey Hicks (18) signals to the coach during the eighth inning against St. Francis during the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game at West Valley College, Saratoga, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (photo by Josie Lepp) St. Francis Chloe Cummings (0) celebrates against Archbishop Mitty in the fourth inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship Game at West Valley College, Saratoga, Calif., Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepe) St. Francis Chloe Cummings (0) makes contact with the ball against Archbishop Mitty in the fourth inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game at West Valley College in Saratoga, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepp) Archbishop Mitty’s Kelly Zybura (17) pitches in the third inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game against St. Francis at West Valley College in Saratoga, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepp) St. Francis Brooke DePisi (4) throws Sidney Stewart (18) over first base to play against Archbishop Mitty in the second inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game at West Valley College in Saratoga on Saturday. , May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepe) St. Francis Lexi O’Gorman (9) bowls the ball in the first inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game against Archbishop Mitty at West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif. Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepp) St. Francis Lexi O’Gorman (9) throws the ball against Archbishop Mitty in the first inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game, West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif., Saturday, May 28, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepp) Archbishop Mitty’s Taryn Kern (22) makes a run in the first inning of the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship game against St. Francis at West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif., Saturday, May 28, 2022. St. Francis won 6-5 in the ninth inning. (Photo by Josie Lepe)
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